During a recent week the curb appeal of my house was measurably increased by the racy elegance of a 2015 Cadillac ATS Coupe glazed in Black Raven paint on display in the driveway.
This four-passenger, two-door sister of Cadillac’s ATS sedan is the automaker’s first compact luxury coupe, and offers the choice of a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine or a 3.6-liter six-cylinder. Buyers can also select rear-wheel or all-wheel drive configuration.
A six-speed automatic transmission is standard on the V6 and on the AWD turbo. If a manual transmission is more your thing, a six-speeder is available on the four-cylinder with RWD.
The turbo delivers 272 horsepower with a fuel economy rating of 21 mpg city and 30 mpg highway. Premium fuel is recommended but not required. Horsepower of the V6 is 321, fuel economy figures are 19 mpg city and 28 mpg highway, and regular unleaded or E85 fuel is A-OK.
Trim levels for the ATS Coupe are the base model (available with four-cylinder versions only) and Luxury, Performance, and Premium for both versions.
My tester was a 3.6L model in the Luxury trim with rear wheel drive. Its generous amount of standard features includes Brembo performance brakes, OnStar 4G LTE Wi-Fi Hotspot with 3GB/3 month data trial, performance front seats with 12-way adjustability, Bluetooth, SiriusXM satellite radio, front and rear park assist, and HID headlamps with a very cool LED strip on the outside edges of the car’s nose.
Augmenting my tester were 18-inch bright aluminum wheels, a Cold Weather Package adding heat to the front seats and steering wheel, and Cadillac’s CUE (for Cadillac User Experience) audio and entertainment system with navigation and 8-inch color touchscreen, Bose surround sound and 110 volt power outlet.
It took me a while to come to terms with the CUE system, mainly getting adjusted to where exactly to press for each control on the big glassy surface and how much pressure to apply. But the navigation system more than compensated by being excellently intuitive and a piece of cake to program. Its computerized female voice guidance is the best I’ve ever heard – so clear, accurate and human-like that I thought we might become friends. Don’t know why she said “please” when giving some directions, though – as if the driver would be doing the navigation system a big favor by following its guidance.
The ATS interior is absolutely first-rate in quality and comfort. There’s plenty of space, too – provided you’re sitting in front. Back seat legroom is scant, to put it nicely, but that’s the going rate for most compact coupes.
A low center of gravity, nearly 50/50 weight distribution and a slew of performance-boosting and ride-enhancing features combine to make the ATS Coupe a dream to drive, on twisty roads as well as highway stretches. Power is impressive, engine roar delightful.
If you don’t have major space demands, can get by with a compact coupe, and have the bankroll for a luxury car, consider this Cadillac. I would if I were you. Not to be too pushy, but I’d go for an AWD version, given weather and road conditions in the Pacific Northwest.
2015 CADILLAC ATS COUPE 3.6L RWD LUXURY Base price, including destination charge: $46,145
Price as driven: $49,075
Mary Lowry is an independent automotive writer who has been reviewing cars for more than 20 years. She is a member of the Motor Press Guild and a board member of the Northwest Automotive Press Association. Vehicles are provided by the manufacturers as a one-week loan for review purposes only. In no way do the manufacturers control the content of the reviews.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
